Shikhar Dhawan, the Indian opener who dismantled Australia’s attack on Test debut last year, will be desperate for time in the middle on Friday.

Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane were the only batsmen denied a decent hit on Tuesday, when India wrapped up a tour match in Adelaide by strolling to a total of 8-363.

The visitors start another two-day game against a Cricket Australia XI on Friday at Adelaide Oval, their final match practice before the first Test is due to start next Thursday in Brisbane.

Dhawan, out edging for 10 earlier this week, failed to pass 40 in his six Test knocks during India’s tour of England in July.

But the 28-year-old is an explosive batsman capable of turning a game, not unlike David Warner.

Warner was actually dropped down the Hyderabad batting order so Dhawan could open when the two played for the same IPL team this year.

Dhawan’s aggression and scintillating off-side strokeplay won’t be forgotten by the hosts.

Australia posted a first-innings total of 408 to give them some hope of avoiding defeat in Mohali, amid last year’s woeful 4-0 Test series loss.

The debutant’s response was to lash an incredible 187 off 174 balls, sharing an opening stand of 289 runs with Murali Vijay.

Dhawan took 85 balls to pass 100 – the fastest ton by a Test debutant.

To get there, the moustached left-hander helped himself to 21 fours.

It is one of the reasons the tourists are likely to leave Dhawan at the top of the order despite his lean trot in England.

“We do have options, but it’s important to back the guys who have been opening at the top of the order,” stand-in skipper Virat Kohli said earlier this week.

“Shikhar is the kind of player who, once he’s mentally free, can be very dangerous.

“Once he gets going, once he gets to 30 or 40 and crosses that 70 or 80 (mark), he can get big hundreds. That’s his strength.

“We will back him initially, but we do have options.”